Police on Vancouver Island are alerting the public to an extortion scam that has recently popped up.
Saanich Police said several people have come forward about the scam, in which they were sent Google street view images of their homes and personal details to prove that the scammer knew where they lived.
The scam starts with an email claiming the recipient has viewed adult content online, and that malware has captured compromising photos or videos.
Then, the scammer demands money be deposited into a Bitcoin wallet. If the victim does not agree, the scammer threatens to send the images to their family and friends.
Police said that, fortunately, none of the individuals who reported the scam complied with the demands and instead contacted the police.
“We urge everyone to be cautious of suspicious emails. If you receive such an email, please report it to the police.
Additionally, report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre via their online reporting portal.
Police would also like to urge people to always report threatening messages to the police, be suspicious of any unsolicited messages or requests you receive and don’t send money under pressure or respond to threatening messages.
It also helps to make sure that your social media profiles are private and you limit the personal information you share on them.
If you believe any of your personal information has been compromised, you are encouraged to contact Equifax and TransUnion to flag your accounts.